Chris Wood has picked Virgil van Dijk and one former Liverpool star as the toughest defenders he has ever faced. The Nottingham Forest striker has been one of the star forwards in the Premier League this season.

The New Zealand international has scored 14 goals from 23 league appearances, with only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak boasting more. The 33-year-old has already matched his return for the whole of last season for the Tricky Trees, with the current campaign the sixth time he has hit double figures in the Premier League.

Forest currently sit third in the Premier League table, nine points behind Liverpool, with Wood’s goals helping lead their unlikely charge for Champions League qualification.

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And Wood, who opened the scoring against the Reds earlier this month as the two sides drew 1-1 at the City Ground, has now admitted that he considers Van Dijk as the ‘best defender’ you can currently face.

But he’s also picked former Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel as one of his toughest opponents, pointing out how the Slovakian would resort to the defensive dark arts.

“I always say Van Dijk at the moment is the best defender you’d come against,” Wood told Optus Sport.

“But Skrtel at Liverpool as well back in the day. He was one of those defenders that just never let you rest, always pinching you and prodding you and just being on your nerves.”

“I think he kind of put strikers off a bit, he was one of the tougher ones and he got stuck in.”

Wood has faced Skrtel twice before in his career, coming off the bench when Liverpool beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 back in August 2010. The two also locked horns at the 2010 World Cup when Slovakia drew 1-1 with New Zealand in the group stages.

Meanwhile, Wood has faced off against Van Dijk 10 times. His goal against the Reds earlier this month marked the first time he had ever scored against the Dutchman, with Wood winning only two of their career meetings.